Thomas van Tonder, the world champion in obstacle races from South Africa, is preparing for what might be the most difficult challenge of his career—crossing over 600 gymnastic bars above the Bloukrans Bridge arch in Tsitsikamma.
This bridge, which is the highest in Africa, stands 216 meters above the river and spans approximately 280 meters. Van Tonder admits that this will be the toughest thing he has ever undertaken, and despite months of preparation, he is uncertain about success.
The Red Bull athlete has scheduled the attempt for Monday, weather permitting. He dedicated an entire year to preparing for this feat, a period that tested not only his physical strength but also his mental resilience.
Van Tonder noted that the preparation process was very long, with the last five or six months being the most intense in terms of training. He described the moment when all project elements—broadcasting equipment, tents, rigging, and branding—began to appear as a feeling of approaching a major goal that is becoming reality.
As the attempt approaches, Van Tonder expressed gratitude that everything has gone according to plan so far. He hopes the weather will be favorable on Monday as planned. A backup day has been set for Tuesday in case of unforeseen circumstances.
Nevertheless, his main goal is to complete the challenge as quickly as possible, ideally in 30–40 minutes, which exposes him to potentially changing conditions throughout the crossing.
He added that he is currently more grateful for his health and the opportunity to be at the event venue. His primary concern is not the weather before the start, but how the wind might affect the attempt once he is in the middle of the bars, as the microclimate of the region is extremely unpredictable.
The initial idea was to create the longest structure of gymnastic bars in the world. Finding a suitable location became a separate problem. Although the team considered several options, including international bridges, they decided to host the project in his home country to showcase the unique South African landscape.
The Bloukrans Bridge provided the perfect combination of local environment and impressive backdrop needed to match the scale and ambition of this challenge.
Despite all the physical preparation, Van Tonder believes that the psychological battle may prove to be no less significant. He emphasized that the mental aspect is often overlooked, focusing only on physical metrics such as the number of pull-ups or hanging time.
For him, this specific challenge proved overwhelming due to its enormous scale and openness. However, based on previous experience, such as climbing ropes in Soweto and participating in world races, he is confident he can tune into the right mental state.
Given that there are over 600 bars between him and the opposite bank, Van Tonder understands that sheer strength may not be enough. On Monday, if the weather allows, he will find out if a year of preparation can help him cross one of South Africa's most spectacular landmarks as part of the Red Bull challenge.